Redirect Checker Tool Online

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Trace the full redirect path of any URL. See every hop, status code, response time, and whether you're losing SEO value through redirect chains or loops.

Enter a URL to trace its redirects:

How the Redirect Checker Works

This tool follows every redirect step from your input URL to the final destination. Here's the process:

  1. Enter a URL — type or paste any web address. If you leave out the protocol, the tool adds https:// automatically.
  2. Follow each hop — the checker makes an HTTP request to the URL. If the server returns a 3xx redirect, it reads the Location header and follows it to the next URL.
  3. Record everything — for each step, the tool records the status code, redirect type, response time, server header, and whether the connection uses HTTPS.
  4. Detect issues — it identifies redirect chains (more than one hop), redirect loops, mixed HTTP/HTTPS transitions, and slow response times.

Why URL Redirects Matter for SEO

Redirects are one of the most common technical SEO elements — and one of the easiest to get wrong. Here's why they matter:

  • Link equity transfer — when you move a page, backlinks pointing to the old URL still carry ranking value. A 301 redirect passes that equity to the new URL. Without it, you lose those signals entirely.
  • Crawl budget — every redirect hop costs Googlebot time. Redirect chains (A→B→C→D) waste crawl budget that could be spent indexing your actual content. Google has indicated it may stop following after a few hops.
  • User experience — each redirect adds 50–300ms of load time. Visitors hitting a chain of redirects experience slower page loads, which directly impacts bounce rates and conversions.
  • HTTPS migration — moving from HTTP to HTTPS requires proper 301 redirects. A 302 (temporary) instead of 301 (permanent) means search engines may not fully transfer your rankings to the HTTPS version.
  • Site migrations — domain changes, URL restructuring, and CMS migrations all require redirect mapping. Broken or circular redirects during migration can tank your traffic overnight.

Use this tool alongside the SSL Certificate Checker to verify that your HTTPS redirects and certificates are working together, or the Meta Tag Checker to confirm the final destination has correct meta tags.

When to Run a Redirect Check

Running a redirect check takes seconds and can prevent serious SEO and usability issues. Here are the most common scenarios:

  • After a site migration — moved to a new domain or restructured URLs? Verify that every old URL correctly reaches the new destination with a single 301 hop.
  • HTTPS setup — after installing an SSL certificate, confirm that HTTP requests redirect to HTTPS with a 301 (not 302) and that no mixed-content loops exist.
  • Shortened or affiliate links — trace shortened URLs (bit.ly, t.co) or affiliate links to see where they actually lead before clicking or sharing them.
  • Debugging 404s — if users report broken pages, check whether the old URL has a redirect in place or if it's returning a 404 directly.
  • Cleaning up redirect chains — over time, URL changes stack up. Check existing redirects periodically to collapse chains (A→B→C) into direct redirects (A→C).

For a broader SEO audit, combine redirect checks with the Robots.txt Tester and Sitemap Checker to ensure your crawling, indexing, and redirects are all aligned. For bulk URL checking across an entire page's links, the HTTP Status Code Checker handles up to 50 URLs at once. To find all broken links on a given page, use the Broken Link Checker.

Redirect Checker: FAQ

What is a URL redirect?
A URL redirect is a server response that sends a browser or crawler from one URL to a different URL. When you visit a page that has been moved, the server responds with a 3xx status code and a Location header pointing to the new address. The browser then automatically follows that location without you having to do anything.
What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
A 301 (Moved Permanently) tells search engines and browsers that the page has permanently moved to a new URL. It passes link equity (ranking power) to the new address. A 302 (Found / Temporary) signals that the move is temporary — the original URL may come back. Search engines generally do not transfer full ranking value with 302 redirects, making 301 the preferred choice for permanent URL changes.
What is a 307 or 308 redirect?
A 307 (Temporary Redirect) and 308 (Permanent Redirect) are stricter versions of 302 and 301 respectively. The key difference is that 307 and 308 preserve the original HTTP method — a POST request stays a POST. With 301 and 302, some older browsers change POST to GET during the redirect. In practice, 308 is treated identically to 301 for SEO purposes.
What is a redirect chain?
A redirect chain occurs when one redirect leads to another redirect, which leads to yet another, and so on. For example: URL A → URL B → URL C → URL D. Each hop adds latency and can dilute link equity. Google recommends keeping redirects as direct as possible — ideally a single hop from old URL to final destination.
What is a redirect loop?
A redirect loop happens when URL A redirects to URL B, and URL B redirects back to URL A (or through a series of URLs that eventually circle back). Loops prevent the page from ever loading. Browsers detect this and show an error like "ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS". This tool checks for loops and flags them immediately.
Do redirects affect SEO?
Yes. 301 and 308 redirects pass most of the original page's ranking signals to the new URL. However, redirect chains (multiple hops) can dilute that value and slow down crawling. Google has stated that long redirect chains may cause Googlebot to stop following after a few hops. Clean, single-hop 301 redirects preserve the most SEO value.
Why is my site redirecting from HTTP to HTTPS?
If your site has an SSL certificate and is configured to use HTTPS (which it should be), any HTTP request will be redirected to HTTPS. This is normal and expected behavior. The redirect should be a 301 (permanent). If you see a 302 instead, update your server configuration to use a 301 for the HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect to get full SEO benefit.
How many redirects are too many?
One redirect is ideal. Two is acceptable (for example, HTTP → HTTPS → canonical URL). Three or more is a chain that should be simplified. Google follows at least 5 redirect hops, but crawl budget is wasted on each hop. For user experience, each redirect adds 50–300ms of latency depending on the server.
Is this redirect checker free to use?
Yes. This redirect checker tool is completely free with no signup, no limits, and no ads. It is built for website owners, developers, and SEO professionals who need to trace URL redirects quickly.
Does this tool store the URLs I check?
No. The tool only traces the redirect chain and returns the result. We do not store URLs, responses, or any personal data from the checking process.

Dealing with Redirect Issues?

We help businesses fix redirect chains, plan site migrations, and set up SEO-friendly URL structures.

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